Around Town

FFXnow Daily Debrief for May 12, 2025

By FFXnow.com

Good Monday evening, Fairfax County. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.

🕗 News recap

The following articles were published earlier today — May 12, 2025.

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on Tuesday throughout the county, from our event calendar.

⛈️ Tuesday’s forecast

Expect showers and potential thunderstorms after 5pm, a high near 68, and southeast winds at 10-14 mph, gusting up to 25 mph. Precipitation chance is 100%, with three quarters to one inch of new rainfall. Tuesday night also has showers and possible thunderstorms, with a low around 63, east winds at 10-14 mph, gusting up to 23 mph, and the same precipitation chance and rainfall amounts. See more from Weather.gov.

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

The MonumentCam screenshot above is used with permission of the Trust for the National Mall and courtesy of EarthCam.

Thanks for reading! Feel free to discuss the day’s happenings in the comments.

News

White South Africans admitted by Trump administration arrive at Dulles Airport

By Associated Press
Afrikaner refugees from South Africa arrive, Monday, May 12, 2025, at Dulles International Airport in Dulles, Va. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

By MATTHEW LEE, REBECCA SANTANA and MOGOMOTSI MAGOME Associated Press

DULLES, Virginia (AP) — The Trump administration on Monday welcomed a small group of white South Africans as refugees, saying they face discrimination and violence at home, which the country’s government strongly denies.

Go to White South Africans admitted by Trump administration arrive at Dulles Airport Read more
Countywide

Flood Watch issued for Fairfax County, with rain starting tonight

By Angela Woolsey
A bird bathes in a puddle by a street curb in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Though the sun was shining over Fairfax County this morning, the weather is expected to take a rainy turn soon.

The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch for the D.C. region, warning of “excessive rainfall” that may lead to “scattered instances of flooding.”

Go to Flood Watch issued for Fairfax County, with rain starting tonight Read more
Announcement

EvolveAll Launches Youth Martial Arts Program Built for Homeschool Families

By EvolveAll
Group of children in white gi practicing kicks in a dojo; girl in foreground executes a high side kick against the wall with a purple belt.

For homeschooling families, finding activities that fit a non-traditional school day can be a challenge. EvolveAll, the martial arts and fitness studio that’s served the local community for more than 15 years, is addressing that gap with a new Homeschool Youth Martial Arts (YMA) program.

The program runs Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:15 to 2:00 PM and follows EvolveAll’s established YMA curriculum, which focuses on discipline, focus, coordination, and self-defense fundamentals for kids ages 5 to 10. Classes are led by EvolveAll’s head YMA Instructor Mr. Christian, who has over a decade of instructing experience. The class size is capped to keep the student-to-instructor ratio low.

Go to EvolveAll Launches Youth Martial Arts Program Built for Homeschool Families Read more
Countywide

Virginia overhauls SOL testing to boost student achievement

By Nathaniel Cline / Virginia Mercury
Person taking a standardized test (photo via Nguyen Dang Hoang Nhu on Unsplash)

In a rare moment of bipartisan agreement on education policy, Virginia leaders have enacted sweeping changes to the state’s K-12 testing system, aiming to raise student performance and make the Standards of Learning (SOL) assessments more meaningful.

Despite ongoing political clashes over broader education policy, Gov. Glenn Youngkin and state lawmakers united earlier this month behind a plan they hope will strengthen student outcomes.

Go to Virginia overhauls SOL testing to boost student achievement Read more
Event

Inner Peace Summit: A Day to Recharge. Reconnect. Renew

Poster for Inner Peace Summit in Washington, DC with multiple speaker headshots and date details (Sept 20, 2026).

Event location

Brahma Kumaris Meditation Museum - Virginia

14020 Thunderbolt Pl., Suite 200, 2nd floor

Chantilly, Virginia 20151

Add to Calendar

In a world that moves faster than ever, inner peace is no longer a luxury, it is a necessity.

Join us for the Inner Peace Summit, a transformative gathering where leaders, professionals, educators, public servants, families, students, faith communities, wellness advocates, and spiritual seekers come together to discover practical tools for living with greater clarity, resilience, compassion, and purpose.

Go to Inner Peace Summit: A Day to Recharge. Reconnect. Renew Read more
Around Town

Whiskey tasting, outdoor movie screening coming to Colvin Run Mill

By Angela Woolsey
Colvin Run Mill water wheel (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

In case the present is becoming a bit overwhelming, a pair of upcoming events at Colvin Run Mill in Great Falls will give visitors the opportunity to escape into the past.

The historic site, located at 10017 Colvin Run Road, will first offer an adults-only experience with a Spirited Grains Whiskey Tasting this Saturday (May 17) starting at 4 p.m.

Go to Whiskey tasting, outdoor movie screening coming to Colvin Run Mill Read more
News

Wolf Trap private school seeks to widen scope to elementary grades

By Angela Woolsey
The entrance to Oakcrest School in Wolf Trap (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

While some Fairfax County Public Schools grapple with overcrowding, a private school in the Wolf Trap area hopes to boost enrollment by welcoming younger students.

The Oakcrest School plans to start serving kindergarten and elementary students, expanding its current scope of sixth through 12th grade, according to a zoning application recently submitted to Fairfax County.

Go to Wolf Trap private school seeks to widen scope to elementary grades Read more
Countywide

Fairfax arts groups start to feel the sting of federal downsizing, economic uncertainty

By Scott McCaffrey
ArtsFairfax sign at Tysons Corner Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County arts organizations have not been immune from the Trump administration’s efforts to downsize the federal government.

Both the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) have started rescinding funding awards from projects and organizations they say don’t fit the priorities of President Donald Trump.

Go to Fairfax arts groups start to feel the sting of federal downsizing, economic uncertainty Read more
News

Graduation ceremonies expected to draw traffic to GMU’s Fairfax campus

By Angela Woolsey
A Patriot Pride sign on George Mason University's Fairfax campus (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Graduation season is getting underway for college and high school students alike, which means an influx of traffic for people living around George Mason University.

GMU warns that “heavy traffic” is expected around its main Fairfax campus for the next month, with dozens of graduation ceremonies scheduled to take place at EagleBank Arena (4500 Patriot Circle).

Go to Graduation ceremonies expected to draw traffic to GMU’s Fairfax campus Read more
Countywide

Morning Notes for May 12, 2025

By FFXnow.com
Chalk drawings on the fountain at Lake Anne Plaza in Reston celebrate Mother’s Day (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

White South African ‘Refugees’ Coming to Dulles — “Plans are underway to fly approximately 60 Afrikaners to Dulles International Airport on a State Department-chartered plane Monday, with federal and Virginia officials preparing to receive them in a ceremonial news conference.” The group is being welcomed despite the Trump administration’s suspension of other U.S. refugee admissions. [Washington Post]

Update on Herndon Double Murder Case — “Prosecutors are seeking to include statements made to police by a 4-year-old girl after her mother and another victim were found slain in the family’s home [in] Herndon.” The motion will be argued soon after attorneys met for a brief hearing last Friday (May 9). [NBC4]

Prison Sentence for Fatal I-395 Motorcycle Crash — “A Falls Church man who fled the scene after striking a motorcyclist near the Pentagon last year has been sentenced to three and a half years behind bars.” The sentence was handed down in Arlington Circuit Court last Friday, May 2. and exceeds the recommended 180 days. [ARLnow]

School Board Revises Cell Phone Usage Policy — After months of debate, the Fairfax County School Board voted 9-3 on Thursday (May 8) to permit “limited cellphone use by students. The compromise allows students to use their cellphones before and after class and during their lunch break.” A phone storage pilot program is still in effect. [WTOP]

Tree Falls Onto Fairfax City Home — “A falling tree crashed onto a duplex in Fairfax County, tearing down power lines and forcing a family out of their home.” The family that resides in the duplex was sleeping at the time, but fortunately, no one was in the bedroom where the tree fell, so there were no injuries. [NBC4]

New Watch Shop Opens in Tysons — “Luxury watch retailer Lenkersdorfer has unveiled a new 7,800-square-foot showroom in Tysons Corner Center, where customers can find a selection of watches from prestigious brands.” The showroom is complemented by the brand’s only Tudor boutique in the area. [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Park Authority Awarded Invasive Species Grant — The Fairfax County Park Authority will receive a $60,827 grant from the Virginia Department of Forestry for invasive species management on parkland. The funds will support an Early Detection Rapid Response program that identfies new populations of invasive plants and “must be used by the end of June 2025.” [FCPA]

It’s Monday — Expect mostly cloudy skies and a high near 76, accompanied by a 30% chance of rain. The likelihood of precipitation will jump to 90% at night, with showers and possible thunderstorms appearing after 5am. The low temperature will be around 64. [NWS]

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